BEIJING, Feb 25 Kyodo (EDS: ADDIN...

BEIJING, Feb 25 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING MORE INFO)

Six-nation talks in succession North Korea's nuclear ambitions began Wednesday with North Korea expressing willingness to exhibit flexibility, but the United States indicating its intention to pass over Pyongyang's demand for compensation measures in exchange for freezing its nuclear program.

While pledging to contribute to a peaceful resolution, Japan said it will search for a comprehensive resolution to the North Korean nuclear and missile issues as well as the issue of Japanese nationals abducted according to the North. The two sides held bilateral talks in succession the sidelines but failed to make any progress

toward the south Korea proposed making the talks regular, saying that delegates should suited every two months, and that a working assign places to should be set up at the flat of the deputy delegation chiefs within pair weeks of the conclusion of the passing from hand to hand round of talks.

nevertheless no signs of a breakthrough emerg in succession the first day of the secondary round of talks, as North Korea appeared to have denied again the existence of an alleged uranium-enrichment program.

southern Korean Deputy Foreign Minister side sheltered from the wind Soo Hyuck said that although North Korea touched forward its alleged uranium-enriching activities in Wednesday's talks, it solely ''repeated its basic position,'' indicating it denied having of that kind a program.

A Japanese official also said no major changes in North Korea's position have been observed

Whether North Korea, which has acknowledged producing plutonium, will admit to having a uranium-enrichment program is the main focus of the next to the first round of talks involving China, Japan, North and southern Korea, Russia and the US

The talks, which are calculate uponed to last three days, will also highlight the North's proposal for freezing its nuclear programs.

The talks began in the morning with brief opening addresses and keynote speeches by way of their chief delegates at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the Chinese capital. They are gathering for the first time since last August when the talks were launched in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also entertainered a dinner in the evening.

In their remarks, the chief delegates reiterated their commitment to seeking a peaceful resolution to the 16-month nuclear crisis and trying to render certain the current round of talks is successful

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is hosting the talks, said the secondary round is significant because ''it launches discussions onward substantive issues, marking another fresh step forward in the peace process''

He added, however, ''As the talks advance ahead, we will encounter more difficulties and challenges.''

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan said he wait fors ''positive'' results, noting his region will adhere to its principles however is also willing to present to view ''flexibility.''

North Korea is awaited to explain its proposal to be frozen its nuclear program in exchange for compensation measures, including strength aid and the lifting from the U.S. of its hostile policy, as the first step

further U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly maintained that Pyongyang must dismantle the two its plutonium and uranium programs in a ''complete verifiable and irreversible'' manner.

If the North commits itself to abandoning its nuclear programs, however, Kelly said the U is ready to join the four other countries in providing ''security assurances'' to Pyongyang.

He also said Washington has no intention of invading or attacking North Korea, as President George W Bush has said in novel remarks.

North Korea and the U had bilateral talks in the afternoon in their efforts to narrow their differences, although details of the talks are unavailable.

The North Korean nuclear crisis heightened in October 2002 when the U said North Korea had admitted to conducting a privy program to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.

China and Russia are reckon uponed to show sympathy with North Korea's proposal to solidify by cold its nuclear program. South Korea is also likely to indicate its willingness to consider the North's proposal and give energy aid if the proposal is a stair toward abolishing the nuclear program.

Mitoji Yabunaka, director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, said Japan is ready to discuss the North's proposal as a first grade and reiterated that it is prepared to propose economic cooperation if all pending issues are resolv and the sum of two units nations ultimately normalize their ties.

moreover he demanded that North Korea make a commitment to swiftly dismantle all of its nuclear programs and disclose all the information.

Yabunaka also urgencyed the need for ''fully effective'' international verification that the nuclear programs have been abandoned ''completely and permanently.''

He raised the abduction issue despite North Korea's repeatedly declareed opposition to Japan's plan to do in the same manner at the six-nation talks.

Yabunaka called for a comprehensive solution to all pending issues, including the nuclear and missile issues by means of the six-nation talks and the abduction question through bilateral dialogue.